Water Quality

The Bureau of Water is committed to ensuring that Illinois’ rivers, streams, and lakes will support all uses for which they are designated including protection of aquatic life, recreation, drinking water supply and fish consumption. They are also committed to ensuring that every Illinois Public Water system provides water that is consistently safe to drink, and that Illinois' groundwater resources are protected for designated drinking water and other beneficial uses.

The Bureau of Water monitors the quality of the state’s surface and groundwater resources; runs a municipal, stormwater, and industrial effluent permitting program; regularly inspects sources of pollution and citizen complaints; insures compliance with regulatory standards; and enforces applicable requirements. They also provide a number of loan and grant programs designed to upgrade existing and build new wastewater, stormwater treatment and public water supply infrastructure, reduce nonpoint source pollution, conduct green infrastructure projects, and protect and restore Illinois’ inland lakes and streams.